'Challenging': Seebohm, Larkin address torrid Pan Pacs preparation

Far be it from Emily Seebohm to state the obvious, but the backstroker could hardly have described it any other way: "It's not been my best prep."

Instead of preparing in earnest to face some of the best swimmers in the world at this week's Pan Pacs in Tokyo, Seebohm was in the midst of a difficult break-up with team member and fellow backstroker Mitch Larkin.

Tough times: Emily Seebohm has spoken about how her relationship break-up impacted her preparation.Credit:AAP

She briefly joined the team camp in Cairns, where Larkin remained, before returning to Brisbane to complete her training under the eye of long-time coach David Lush. Seebohm then skipped the staging camp in Nagaoka and only arrived in Tokyo on Monday.

Her first swim on Friday would be somewhat of a lottery given the disruption in her training but she made it count, winning her heat with a short-lived Pan Pacs record of 58.79s, which was quickly eclipsed by Canada's Kylie Masse (58.29s).

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Seebohm said she had little idea as to how she would perform given the emotional toll of the past month. In the end, it was the most pleasant of surprises.

"I didn't really know where I was at. It's not been my best prep. I'm just coming here and trying to tough it out and race the best in the world," Seebohm said.

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Seebohm and Larkin suddenly went from the sport pages to the gossip pages, with Seebohm getting papped getting her nails done like she was a visiting Hollywood celebrity.

She said being given permission to break camp and be with her family and coach was a huge help as she tried to find a way through the fog and produce some big swims at the key Pan Pacs meet.

"It wasn't ideal but it was the best of a worst situation. It was nice to go back home and live in my own bubble and do my own stuff. As to what I'm capable of, I don't know. It's not been a great prep.

"I've got nothing to lose. I've been here, there and everywhere. I'll see how I go."

Larkin had already swum on day one of the meet, leading off the succesful gold medal-winning mixed medley relay. He was back in his 100m backstroke event on Friday morning, qualifying sixth for the final.

He said the past few weeks had been "challenging" but he had put his head down and dedicated himself to his work, most of which was aimed at his favoured 200m, in which he won Olympic silver in 2016.

"It's been challenging but we had a fantastic camp in Cairns. It's been a fantastic environment to train and race together. I feel really good," Larkin said.

Cate Campbell allowed herself a slice of chocolate cake on Thursday night after her staggering relay split of 50.93s, which made her the quickest female relay swimmer in history.

She was back in the pool early on Friday, qualifying second for the 100m free final behind America's Olympic champion Simone Manuel, who in turn was desperate to bounce back from a strangely slow relay leg swum in Campbell's wake.

Swimming brilliant relays, then coming up short in the invidual 100m, has been a familiar story for Campbell in recent campaigns. She hopes her renewed outlook on swimming - more chill, less stress - can help her deliver on her obvious talents and defend her Pan Pacs title.

Pressure tends to follow Campbell but it's mostly through her own doing. Rattling off historic times can't help but announce to the world you are in smouldering form.

"I'm quitely stoked about that one (relay swim). To get under 51 seconds is pretty good, I'll pat myself on the back. I knew that I'd swum a good race when I hit the wall, I'd executed it well and I'd swum it smart, which is the big thing for me," Campbell said.

"I had a little bit of chocolate cake last night as a bit of a reward. I'd been eyeing it off all week and I finally thought I'd earned it. I got back to my room and started winding down, watched a TV show, read a book, wrote in my diary, all of those things I would normally do.

"I want to have more confidence in myself and that's what I'm taking forward."